Tag: Geneva
Record $31mn sale of biggest vivid pink diamond at Geneva auction
GENEVA , Switzerland (AFP) — A 15.38-carat vivid pink diamond, the biggest of its kind to go on auction, was sold for a new record total of $31.56 million (27.88 million euros), Sotheby’s auction house said Tuesday. Two telephone bidders battled for the prized jewel before some 150 people attending the auction held at a luxurious hotel in Geneva. “It’s a new world record… It’s the highest price ever paid for a fancy vivid pink […]
Diamond magnate’s rare stone goes under the hammer in Geneva
GENEVA ,Switzerland (AFP) — A 14.62-carat blue diamond owned by an architect of the modern diamond industry could fetch a record price at this week’s Magnificent Jewels auctions in Geneva. The dazzling rock previously belonged to the late Philip Oppenheimer, scion of the family that controlled the De Beers diamond mining company. As chairman of a powerful cartel called the Central Selling Organization, Oppenheimer — who died in 1995 — tightly controlled the international diamond […]
Kerry sees hope of extending truce to Syria’s Aleppo
(Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday talks were closer to extending a Syrian truce to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has torpedoed peace talks. Kerry was in Geneva for talks with other dignitaries to try to revive the first major ceasefire of the five-year Syrian war, which was put in place in February with U.S. and Russian backing but has since all […]
Peace talks stall as Syrian government denies opposition’s precondition
The Syria peace talks in Geneva struggled to continue into a second day as the Syrian government did not accept opposition’s precondition for official negotiation. The United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was scheduled to meet with the Syrian main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) delegation for the second time on Tuesday afternoon at the UN headquarters in Geneva. But the meeting was canceled after the Syrian government denied the opposition’s […]
Matinding bakbakan, patuloy pa rin sa harap ng peacetalks sa Geneva
Matinding bakbakan sa Syria, patuloy pa rin sa harap ng usapang pangkapayaan na pinangunahan ng United Nations Envoy para sa Syrian Opposition Groups sa Geneva.
UN Syria envoy pleas for peace ahead of Geneva talks
On the eve of the first Syrian peace talks in two years, the UN Syria envoy made an emotional plea on Thursday (January 28) for a peaceful resolution to the bloody and bitter five-year-long war. However, earlier on Thursday the Syrian opposition said it will not attend peace talks due to begin in Geneva on Friday (January 29), derailing the first attempt in two years to hold negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. An opposition […]
Zika virus spreading ‘explosively’ in Americas -WHO
Zika virus – linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil – is spreading “explosively”, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (January 28). Director-general Margaret Chan told members of WHO’s executive board in Geneva that the spread of the mosquito-borne disease had gone from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions. “Last year, the virus was detected in the Americas, where it is now spreading explosively. As of today, […]
Geneva raises alert; ISIS communications intercepted
The Swiss city of Geneva raised its alert level on Thursday and said it was looking for suspects who, according to national officials, had possible links to terrorism. A security guard at the United Nations’ European headquarters told Reuters that Swiss authorities were searching for four men believed to be in or near the city. Another guard said the U.N. compound was on maximum alert, and Geneva prosecutors said they were investigating the preparation of […]
US ramps up pressure on Russia as Ukraine separatists sit tight
The US has warned Russia of further sanctions unless it helps convince Ukrainian separatists to leave government buildings. They have so far ignored the terms of a deal to de-escalate the crisis and refused to budge. US national security advisor Susan Rice said Moscow must use its influence to persuade pro-Russian activists to implement the Geneva deal, which order those occupying administrative buildings to disarm and leave. Rice warned that the US was otherwise prepared […]
Putin calls Russian interference in Ukraine ‘nonsense,’ backs Geneva talks
President Vladimir Putin has called claims Russia is behind eastern Ukraine’s unrest “nonsense.” He has accused the government in Kyiv of raising tensions in the region, while expressing hope for crisis talks. During the beginning of a televised call with the nation on Thursday, Putin said Ukraine’s decision to send armed forces to the country’s restive east rather than establishing a dialogue was a “grave crime.” He also dismissed Western accusations that Russian special forces […]
